The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1887-10-13
Water Supply on the Farm.

supply Vn ouO dLms
CAmerican Agriculturist.l
A copious supply of pure water is
indispensable on every farm. This is
one point to which particular atten-
tion should be given in selecting a
farm. A clear, cool, running stream
through the pasture and near the barn,
is the most convenient source for the
supply of the cows, but unless the
farm controls the springs from which
the stream issues, it is apt to be the
worst Of all. IL the water is contami-
mated in any way, the quality Of the
milk will inevitably suffer; and many
cases occur in which dairyman, suf-
fering from supposed mysterious
trouble with the milk, and the butter
and cheese made from it, has at last
found the cause to be impurity in the
water drank by the cows. Moreover,
large quantity Of water is used in
dairy for cleansing the pans, and if
the water is not pure, the very source
of the supposed cleansing brings i'm
purity into the dairy. The writer's
supply Of water was procured from
springs which were opened in the bot
tom of a slope between the house and
barn, by digging three or four feet
down to fine clean bed Of sand and
gravel; when the water Immediately
flowed out over the brim and down to
small spring stream in the bottom,
which was fed by large number of
bubbling springs in its bed. Such
source as this, conveniently close to
the barn, and not so low that it can
not be brought up in pipes by means
of pump, is the very best; as the
water is cool in summer, and warm in
winter, and in unlimited supply at all
seasons Of the year. The manner in
which this supply .of water was made
available is as follows: A reservoir or
tank was cut out near the foot of the
slope sufficiently deep to hold an
abundant stock, and to secure an even
temperature, which averaged from
forty-eight to fifty degrees in mid
summer, and forty-five to forty-eight
degrees in midwinter. The pool was
lined with a wall Of stone laid closely
and covered with a small building for
protection. Other springs were opened
and walled in the same way, and arched
over with stone, after providing safe
outlet with drain tiles, and an air-trap
to prevent access of any small insects
or animals. Pipes Of galvanized iron
were laid from these springs in trench
es three feet deep, so as to be safe
from frost, and to preserve GOODNESS
in the hot weather, and connected
with pumps in the house, stable, barn
and barnyard. Where the side Of the
hill was too great to permit the use of
a common suction pump, dry well
was dug to a sufficient depth, viz,
eight feet, and the pipe was carried to
the bottom of it and connected with a
force pump, by which the water could
be carried by means of hose to any
part Of the yard or stables. A nozzle
attached to this hose made it easy to
throw stream Of water over any of
the buildings, most useful thing in
case of fire, or for washing the stable
floor, and other desirable purposes.
Where springs of this kind are not
available, common wells are next in
value. But as wells are quickly con-
taminated by drainage from the sur
face, when in or near barnyards or
stables, it is advisable to have the we'll
for use in dairy at some distance
from the stable and yard. It is only
a question of time when the percola-
tion Of water fouled by the manure
in barnyard, constantly teaching by
the rain, will reach the well; and
though the water is filtered to some
extent by its passage through the soil,
yet in time filter becomes fully
charged with the sediment and cannot
act any longer.